Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Tuesday updates from www.hometownheadlines.com

Click www.hometownheadlines.com

December's auto manufacturing watch: Highs and lows

A story in today's Rome News reflects an ongoing trend among some auto dealers: consolidation as sales continue to slow (click Consolidate). Reports the RNT: The Terry Reid Mitsubishi and Mount Berry Kia dealerships in Rome are merging with Reid-owned lots in Cartersville> RNT

-With all the talk about bailouts and industry changes, here's an update on the region's auto manufacturing plants:

>VW shifts to first gear in Chattanooga:

Perhaps missed in the Christmas scramble was this item: Volkswagen Group of America Inc. is beginning construction on a $30 million paint facility for the Chattanooga plant coming to Enterprise South Industrial Park (right). Walbridge has been selected as the general contractor. The plant is to be "weather-tight" by September. The announcement comes five months after VW announced it would invest $1 billion in Chattanooga for a new North American plant. VW and/or its offshoots are expected to have significant impact on Northwest Georgia> VW

>Honda reduces production at Lincoln, Ala., plant> Honda

>Kia 'still on track' for November rollout> AJC

>The South and the auto industry> Newsweek

Tuesday's Buzz

-Gingrey to WXIA--I tried to have congressional raises cut: U.S. representatives Phil Gingrey and Nathan  Deal are among those seeing their annual salaries increased from $169,300 a year to $174,000--2.8 percent--starting in 2009. Gingrey tells WXIA:."This is a year when, in spades, I would say, no cost of living increase for the Members of Congress."> Raises

-NBA 'maverick' Mark Cuban buys into Carmike, owner of Cartersville, Calhoun theaters: Dallas Mavericks basketball team owner Mark Cuban, the billionaire who also is part-owner of Landmark Theaters cinema, now owns 9.4 percent of Carmike Cinemas Inc. The Georgia chain owns the Carmike 12 in Cartersville and the Martin 3 in Calhoun> Carmike

-Battle of the chicken biscuits: Fans watching Wednesday night's Chick-fil-A Bowl with Georgia Tech and LSU will see plenty of signs of an escalating chicken war. On Thursday, Chick-fil-A restaurants will be giving away coupons for a free chicken biscuit to be used on your next visit (you have to buy something in order to get the freebie). Keep a PC or laptop going during the game as well; CFA's e-savvy marketing staff usually has something clever planned involving Internet interaction. Details

-Floyd County Republicans set precinct mass meeting, convention> Politics

-Bagwell, Barcomb sworn into office: Probate Court Judge Steven Burkhalter, center, on Monday issued the oath of office to both Floyd School Board member Brian Barcomb, left, and County Commissioner Irwin Bagwell. Both Barcomb and Bagwell won their respective seats in the November election. Contributed photo.

-Gary Tillman, Ken Irvin, Jim Van Es latest inductees to sports hall of fame: The Rome Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority Board unanimously voted to induct three new members into the Sports Hall of Fame:  the late Gary Tillman for Amateur Athlete; Ken Irvin for Professional Athlete; and Jim Van Es for Lifetime Achievement. The induction banquet is March 2> Details

New Year's travel updates:

-Dec. 31-Jan. 4/Troopers predict 20 traffic deaths over New Year's weekend: Traffic estimates for the holiday period from the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit at the Georgia Department of Transportation are for 3,008 traffic crashes, 1,350 injuries and 20 fatalities across the state.  During the last New Year's holiday travel period, which was also 102 hours long, there were 3,108 traffic crashes, 1,250 injuries and 22 deaths recorded.

-DOT suspending road work: Georgia's Department of Transportation is suspending lane closures Wednesday, Dec. 31, through Friday, Jan. 2.

-Check local gas prices: State average at $1.48> Georgia Gas Buddy

-Check the latest traffic conditions> DOT Maps

Weather Center / Brought to you by Roman Court

-Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 67.

-Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.

-Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
-New Year's Eve: Mostly clear and colder, with a low around 25.
-New Year's Day: Sunny, with a high near 52.
-For additional updates, please click WeatherCenter

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable / brought to you by Riverside Toyota

-Florida certainly no Harvard--and other startling findings unearthed by AJC report. For more, click Arey

Sports update

-Atlanta Braves tweak some minor league assignments>  Sports

Downtown Headlines

-New year gets off to a rockin' start--starting Wednesday night> Downtown

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